Spike-straightener



A. w. TAB'ERT AND J. E'. TISDALE.

SPlKE STRAIGHTENER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1920.

1,389,228. P ten ed Aug. 30, 1921.

2 SHEE'TSSHEET 1.

21 Fig.1 1 Z E i 2 Mae/Liars:

A. W TABERT AND J. E. TISDALE.

SPIKE STRAIGHTENER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 14. (920.

Patehted Aug- 30,1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

' actors designate the same I UNITED" STATES;

PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER W. TABERT, OF WEST 'AL'LIS, AND JUNIUS E.-TISDALE, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN; SAID TISDALE ASSIGNOR 'lO SAID TA'BERT.

- srIkE-STRAIGHTENER. f

Application filed May 14,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALEXANDER WV. TA- BERT and J uNIUs E. TISDALE, citizens of the United States, residing atv West Allis and Milwaukee, respectively, the county of Milwaukee and State of WVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spike-Straighteners, of which the following is a specification, reference be ng had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof. J

The main objects of this invention are to straighten and restore to original and proper form, used or'bent railway spikes or the like, and thereby reclaim otherwise useless spikes which have heretofore been classed of expense and loss inrailway repair work and maintenance, and to avoid the necessity of providing and keeping a large stock of spikes on hand and carrying more-than are required from place to place where track repairs are tobe made,

It consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims. r

In the accompanying drawing like charparts in the several figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a spike straightener embodying the invention; Fig. 2 15 a vertical longitudinal section thereof on the line 22, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2; Fig. 1 is a plan view of'a modified construction of the device; and Fig. 5 is a sideelevation of the same. 4

The straightener, as shown in Figs. 1, 2

and 3, comprises relatively fixed and movable jaws 1 and 2, which are hinged together adjacent their lower ends by a pin The fixed jaw 1, is formed at its lower end with a flange or extended base 5, for supporting it in'an upright position on a plank or block 6,"to which it may be fastened by spikes 7, as shown in Fig. 2. I

The jaws when closed, form one or'more vertical cavities-or matrices 9 and1 0, corresponding in shape with the bod es of spikes to be straightened, and opening at the upper ends of the jaws. These cav ties may be formed partly in each aw or entirely Specification of Letters Patent. PatentedAug. 30, 1921.

1920. Serial No. 381,317."

when the-spikes are driven into the cavities,

the heads will be trued and brought into proper relation to the bodies.

Adjacent its upper end and'in its outer side opposite the cavities 9 and 10, the fixed jaw 1 is formed with a transverse semicylindrical seat or fulcrum bearing 12. as scrap iron and represent a large item A lever armor handle 14 is formed or provided at one end with atransverse cylindrical trunnion 15, fitted to turn in the seat or hearing 12, in which it is held by spaced lugs 0r keepers 16, formed on orattached to the jaw at each side of the arm or handle, thereby pivotally connecting the arm or handle with the jaw. p

The trunnion 15 is formed or provided at the ends with alined pintles 18, which are eccentric to the axis of the trunnion.

The movable j aw2 is connected with the pintles 18 on each side of the straightener by links 20 and a pin 21 passing through a transverse hole insaid jaw parallel with the trunnion 15. l

To facilitate removal of the straightened spikes from the channelsor cavities 9 and 10, particularly when they are formed en-' tirely within the fixed jaw 1, ejector pins 22 are fitted and guided in openings between the cavities and the seat or bearing 12, and the trunnion 15 is formed with re cessed "earns 23, which by engagement with the pins, thrust the spikes laterally out of the cavities when the lever arm or handle 14' is turned upwardly and the straightener is opened, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. V

To prevent accidental removal and loss of the ejectorpins from the jaw 1, they are formed at their outer ends with heads, and the outer ends of the holes or openings in which the pins are fitted are counterbored to receivethe heads, so that they will not interfere with the operation of the trunnion 15 in opening the jaws or straightener.

The straightener is'formed with a transverse clearance hole or opening 25, intersecting the lower ends of the cavities'or matrices 9 and 10, to facilitate the removal therefrom of scale and dirt.

The straightener may be provided with sledge or heavy hammer, thereby straightening the bodies and truing the heads relative to the bodies. The centers of the pintles 18 being turned down slightly *below the axis of the trunnion 15 in closing the straightener, the movable jaw 2 is thereby locked and held in its closed position against the fixed jaw 1, so that it will not be forced' open by driving or forcing the spikes into the grooves or cavitles 9 and 10.

After the spikes have thus been driven or forced into place and straightened, the lever arm or handle 14. is turned upward,

thereby swinging the jaw 2 away from thejaw 1 and opening the straightener. In

opening the straightener the earns 23 force the ejector pins 22 inwardly and thrustthe spikes from the grooves or cavities 9 and 10.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 5, illustrating a modification of the tool, the matrix grooves, channels or cavities 9 and 10 are formed in dies 27 which are removably fitted in dovetail or undercut recesses in the jaws 1 and 2 and may be renewed or exchanged for others having matrix grooves, channels or cavities of different sizes or shapes without throwing away or duplicatingthe entire jaws.

The fixed jaw 1 is formed below the movable jaw 2 with another base flange or foot 5, to which the movable jaw is hinged on the opposite side of the central vertical plane between the jaws from the fixed jaw, so that a clearance space or opening is afforded below the dies not only for the escape of scale and dirt from the matrix grooves or cavlties, but also for the removal of straightened spikes which will fall between the lower ends of the jaws when they are opened and through an opening formed for the purpose in the base on which the straightener is mounted. I

To relieve the hinge connection between th jaws from the downward thrust and strain exerted on the movable aw in driving spikes into the matrix grooves or cavities, the fixed aw 1 may be formed on the sides with shoulders 29 for engagement wlth ment of one jaw or die relative to the other and undue strainon the hinge connection between them by driving or forcing bent spikes into the straightening matrix or cavity. 1

To facilitate the construction of the tool or straightener the links 20 may be connected with the jaw 2 by means of pintles or studs 35, cast on the jaw in place of the pin 21, shown in Figs. 1 and'2, for which a hole has to be drilled through the jaw, and the hinge connection between the jaws may consist of pintles or studs 36, cast on the jaw 2 and fitted into slotted ears 37 cast on the extended base of the jaw 1.

The pintles or studs 36 are flattened on opposite sides so as to pass through the contracted openings into the ears 37 when the jaw 2 is turned down into a horizontal v 7 position in assembling the parts of the straightener and to interlock with the ears when the jaw is turned up into position to be connected with the links 20.

A curved ratchet pawl or catch 39 pivoted to the jaw land extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom through a slot in and engagingwith the lever arm or handle 14, prevents said arm or handle from being jarred upwardly by driving spikes into the straightener and from accidentally releasing themovabledie and permitting it to open prematurely.

In other respects the tool shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is substantially like that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, in construction and opera-, tion.

In manycases bent spikes may be straightened without driving by simply placing them in position between the jaws when the straightener is open and then closing the movable jaw 2 with the lever arm 14 against the fixed jaw 1, thereby forcing the spikes into the cavity or matrix'9 or 10 formed by the closed jaws.

Various modifications in the details of. construction and arrangement of parts other than those hereinbefore described may be made without departure from the principle and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

1. In a spike straightener the combination of relatively fixed. and movable jaws formingwhen closed a longitudinal matrix of the shape in cross section of spikesto be straightened and hinged together adjacent one end of the matrix, a lever pivotally connected with the fixed jaw and provided with pintles eccentric to its pivot axis, and links pivoted to the movable jaw and connecting it with the pintles of the lever on opposite sides of the fixed jaw.

2. In a spike straightener the combination of relatively fixed and movable jaws hinged together adjacent their lower ends and forming when closed a vertical cavity corresponding in cross section with the shape of the bodies of spikes to be straightened and open at the upper ends of the jaws, the fixed jaw being formed adjacent its upper end with a transverse bearing, a lever having at one end a transverse cylindrical trunnion fitting and normally confined in said bearing and provided at the ends with alined pintles eccentric to its axis, and links pivoted to the movable jaw and connecting the pintles therewith on each side thereof.

8. In a spike straightener the combination of two jaws hinged together at one end and forming when closed a matrix corresponding in shape with the bodies straightened and open at the other end of the jaws, one of the jaws having a transverse bearing, a lever having at one end a transverse trunnion seated and rotatable in said bearing and provided at the ends with eccentric pintles, links connecting the pintles with the other jaw on each side of the straightener, a cam formed in the lever trunnion, and an ejector pin guided in an opening in one jaw between the cam and matrix.

at. In a spike straightener the combination of relatively fixed and movable jaws hinged together adjacent their lower ends and forming when closed a vertical matrix corresponding in shape with the bodies of spikes to be straightened and open at the upper end of the straightener, a transverse clearance opening intersecting the lower end of the matrix, a lever arm pivotally connected at one end with the fixed jaw adjacent its upper end and provided with transverse alined pintles eccentric to its pivot axis, and links pivoted to the movable jaw and con necting it with the pintles.

5. In a spike straightener the combination of relatively fixed and movable jaws hinged together adjacent one end thereof and forming when closed a longitudinal cavity corresponding in shape with the bodies of spikes to be straightened and opening at the other end of the jaws, the fixed jaw having a transverse tulcrunr bearing, a lever having a transverse trunnion fitted to turn and conof spikes to be r fined in said bearing and provided at the ends with alined eccentric pintles, and links pivotedto the movable jaw and connecting it with the pintles which in closing the j aws matrix channel extending through the upper end of the jaw, a movable jaw hinged at its lower end to the fixed jaw adjacent its lower end and adapted to close over the matrix channel therein, a lever arm having at one end a transverse cylindrical trunnion fitted to turn in said fulcrum bearing and provided at the ends with eccentric pintles and between its ends with a recessed cam, links connecting the pintles with the movable jaw on each side thereof and an ejector pin guided and held in an opening through the fixed jaw between the matrix channel and the cam in the trunnion.

7. In a spike straightener the combination of jaws hinged together adjacent one end and formed in their inner sides adjacent their other ends with longitudinal undercut I recesses, dies removably fitted in said recesses and forming when the jaws are closed a matrix cavity corresponding in cross section with the shape of the bodies of spikes to be straightened and opening at the upper ends of the jaws, and a lever arm fulcrumed on one aw and connected with the other for closing them and holding them closed.

8. In a spike straightener the combination of relatively fixed and movable jaws hinged together adjacent their lower ends and forming when closed a vertical matrix cavity corresponding in shape with the bodies of spikes to be straightened, the jaws being formed with shoulders adapted by engagement with each other to relieve the hinge connection between the jaws from the thrust of spikes driven into said cavity, a lever having a transverse fulcrum bearing in the 

